Yesterday, on Saturday March 18, 2017, officers assigned to the BPD’s Youth Violence Strike Force, commonly referred to as the 'Gang Unit' were busy Keeping Boston Safe from those who would seek harm upon others. During three unrelated incidents in Dorchester, three armed suspects were taken into custody without incident and three dangerous firearms were taken off the streets of Boston and out of the communities we work to protect. We commend the officers for their ongoing efforts to combat this kind of gang and gun related violence, which has no place in our great city. Stay safe and keep up the outstanding work.

firearm seized during incident #1

INCIDENT #1: At about 2:00 PM on Saturday March 18, 2017, officers assigned to the Youth Violence Strike Force made an onsite firearm arrest after a foot pursuit in the area of Erie Street and Michigan Avenue in Dorchester. The officers were in the area conducting an unrelated firearm investigation when they observed an individual, later identified as Dominick Gavin, 19, of Hyde Park, behaving in a suspicious manner. Upon noticing the officers in their unmarked police car and without any interaction or provocation whatsoever, the male took off running while clutching at the waistband area of his pants. Now believing that he may be armed, the officers exited their vehicle and pursued the suspect on foot through several backyards before finally placing him in custody at which time they recovered a loaded .32 caliber Davis Industries handgun from the suspect's jacket pocket. It was later revealed that the suspect was wanted two outstanding warrants. The suspect will appear in Dorchester District Court on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition and Trespassing.

firearm seized during incident #2

INCIDENT #2: At about 9:00 PM on Saturday March 18, 2017, officers assigned to the Youth Violence Strike Force made an onsite firearm arrest in the area of Norton Street and Bowdoin Street in Dorchester after responding to a call for shots fired in the area of Mount Ida Road. During that incident, there were no reported injuries or damage to property and the armed suspect was seen fleeing the area in an older grey Nissan. While canvasing the area, the officers observed the suspect vehicle parked at the above intersection and approached to speak with the occupants. Officers learned that the operator, Juan Muniz, 21, of Dorchester, did not possess a valid driver’s license and instructed him to exit the vehicle. When asked if he had anything illegal on his person, the suspect indicated that he was in possession of a firearm. The suspect was placed in custody without incident at which time the officers recovered a loaded .32 caliber Keltec P32 handgun from inside his pants pocket. The suspect will appear in Dorchester District Court on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition and Operating a Motor Vehicle without a License. It was not immediately clear if the suspect had any connection to the initial call for shots fired.

firearm seized during incident #3

INCIDENT #3: At about 11:45 PM on Saturday March 18, 2017, officers assigned to the Youth Violence Strike Force made an onsite firearm arrest after performing a traffic stop in the area of Jerome Street and Cushing Avenue in Dorchester. The officers were on patrol in the area after responding to a call for shots fired on Humphries Street when their cruiser was nearly struck by a motor vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign. The officers conducted a traffic stop and immediately observed that the passenger in the vehicle, later identified as Keiarri Dyette, 19, of Dorchester, appeared to be extremely nervous and was behaving in a suspicious manner. After numerous verbal commands to exit the vehicle to be frisked for officer safety, the suspect finally complied at which time the officers clearly observed a firearm sticking out of the waistband of his pants which then fell down his pant leg. The officers placed the suspect in custody without incident and then carefully recovered the loaded firearm. Upon closer examination, the officers learned that the 9mm Fabrique Nationale Herstal handgun was fully loaded with an extended magazine, a round in the chamber and the hammer cocked back. The suspect will appear in Dorchester District Court on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Carrying a Loaded Firearm and Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device. There has been no determination at this time if the suspect in this matter was connected in any way to the initial call for shots fired.